Sewing set



June 10, 1941. L. CLANTON 2,245,037

' SEWING SET Filed March 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 INVENTOR Jee zanzovz BY 5M d/ M f ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1941 UNETED STATES Z ATENT QFFECE 5 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel sewing set.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a set structure with means for holding a plurality of spools of thread equal in number to the usual assortment, together with a cell or chamber in which additional spools of thread, needles and other articles incident to the work of the average woman or seamstress can be stored, so that all of the equipment required will be easily accessible.

A special feature consists in means whereby the ends of the thread of various spools may be inserted through a dispensing means in such a manner that such ends will always be accessible, and may be drawn out to any length that the worker requires, means being provided for in1- posing frictional resistance to movement of the thread so that the latter cannot slip out of the dispensing means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel form of thread cutter whereby the thread may be severed cleanly and in a plane transverse to its length so as greatly to facilitate threading of a needle.

A further feature resides in mounting the thread cutter so that it can be moved into convenient relation to any portion of the thread dispensing means, and whereby the frictional resistance imposed will serve to hold the thread against dispensing movement while the free end is manually thrust across and into engagement with the cutter, thus enabling the user to effect the severing operation by merely holding a free portion of the thread.

A further feature resides in a novel spool retainer for engaging spools of various length and preventing them from being disengaged from their spindles should the sewing set fall off from a table or be accidentally upset.

The invention has many other features and objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a sewing set structure showing the most improved form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1, with the thread cutters at a different position from that shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, with the cell lid opened.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the frame taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 9 is a detached view in elevation of a thread friction means.

Fig. 10 is a detached view in side elevation of a spool retainer.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view thereof on line I l-l l of Fig. 10, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of my improved thread cutter with parts in section.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line l3i3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View on line M--l4 of Fig. 12, on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of a knife holder.

Fig. 16 is an end View thereof.

Fig, 17 is a side elevation of the knife.

Fig. 18 is an end view of the knife.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

My improved sewing set comprises a frame which, as shown, consists of an upper section I and a lower section 2, and these sections are rigidly connected by standards 3, which serve to hold said sections in superposed spaced relation. In the present construction the upper section is in the form of a ring, which may be effectively stiffened by having its inner and outer margins bent downwardly to form flanges 4 and 5, respectively. The lower section 2, likewise has its outer margin bent downwardly for a similar purpose, as indicated at 6, and this lower section is of disc-like form.

Reference will next'be made to the specific features with which the lower section 2 is equipped.

Each of the standards 3 is provided with a thread guide which, as shown, consists of a bent up loop portion 7 through which the thread 8 is extended, and the guide I is low enough so that the draw on the spool 9 is in a generally downward direction, whereby the thread will not tend to lift the spool. As all the standards are identical in form and function, this description of one will suffice for all. In Fig, 3 I have shown six of said standards.

Between each pair of standards I have shown what I will term a middle thread guide, as indicated at In, which may consist of a loop of wire having its lower ends H fixed to said lower section 2. This middle thread guide is also relativel 10w to prevent the draw on the thread from lifting the spool.

Between each standard 3 and middle guide 10 I have shown a spool retaining spindle 52 having its lower end fixed to section 2, and from Fig. l itwill be seen that the spindle I2 is relatively short with respect to the height of the spool, irrespective of the difference in size of the spool. These spindles I2 relatively retain the spools 9 in position and fit the bores of said spools loosely, leaving the upper portions of the bores free. There are twelve spindles shown and all are alike except one, which is equipped to hold two spools, and will be later described. All the remaining eleven spindles are proportioned to take one spool.

Reference will next be made to a means for preventing the spools from slipping off from the relatively short spindles 12 should the sewing set be tipped over or fall off from a table or other support.

With reference to Figs. 4, 10, and 11 I have shown a spool retainer which is rod-like in form, but which may consist of a tube of resilient metal, as indicated at I3. The lower end is split at ill and normally expands beyond the diameter of the bore of any size spool 9. This expanding end is contracted and inserted into the free upper portion of the bore of a spool and the upper end I5 is adapted for engagement with the lower face of the upper section I so that the spool cannot slip off from its spindle should the sewing set be accidentally tipped over. Further, this retainer it also imposes a slight drag against rotation of the spool when adjusted as shown in Fig. 4, because of the spools engagement with section 2, and because of the slight friction of the upper end l5 against the upper section I. Hence, the spool cannot turn with absolute freedom and cause an objectionable slack in the free portion of the thread. I have omitted this retainer l3 in Figs. 2 and 3, for clearness of illustration but it should now be understood how it can be applied to any or all the spools except those spools on the spindle that holds more than one spool. I

Reference will next be made to a novel spindle device for holding two spools of thread, and it will of course be understood that more than one, or in fact all the spindles might be of this type, and still the structure would be within the scope of my invention. However, in this disclosure I 'have only shown one such spindle.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8, it will be seen that section 2 is provided with a spindle passage opening l6, and section I is provided with a journalling socket W. A spindle i8 is adaptedto be inserted'into the position shown in Fig. ithrough the bores of two spools, with the upper end of the spindle in socket l1, and thelower end having a head it engaging lower section 2. The spindle is grooved at 2% and means such as a forked holder plate 2 l, with the forked portions 22 engaging said groove, will serve to support said spindle removably in position. Midway of its length said spindle ill has a washer supporting shoulder 23 which is of sufiiciently reduced diameter to freely pass into the bores of, the spools, and which serves, when in the Fig. 4 position, to support a loosely disposed washer 24 which engages the bottom of the upper spool and'maintains it free from engagement with the lower spool. In Fig.5. I have shown an upper spool in the position in which it would be held by the fingers of the user, to show how two spools can be assembled, the larger spool being of course disposed lowermost. As the spindle I8 is raised the shoulder 23 will engage the washer 24, which need never be removed from the spindle, and after the upper end of the spindle is engaged with socket E7 the retaining plate 2i is inserted. Where there are two spools on a single spindle, I use a second thread guide 25, as shown in Fig. 6, so that there will be a thread guide for each spool.

Reference will next be made to the features embodied in the upper section I, with special reference to Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 9.

I have shown said upper section provided with a thread dispensing means which includes twelve thread dispensing holes 26, all of which are identical in form and function and hence only one need be described in detail.

For convenience in spacing the hole 26 I prefor to raise a portion of section I, as shown at 21, and form the hole 26 in said raised portion. However, this is not essential, although it has certain advantages. After the thread is extended through its guide, it is also extended through hole 26 so that the free end 8 of the thread will tion I, and require restoration of the thread,

which would be objectionable. Further, in the operation of severing a length of thread, to be later described, it would be necessary to hold the thread at two spaced points, which would be a disadvantage.

Therefore I will next describe a feature whereby I can impose frictional resistance to movement of the thread so that it cannot slip down through hole 26, and so that in the severing operation it will only be necessary to hold the thread at one point. I

Below each hole 26 I provide a holder 23 (Fig. 7) which is merely a U-shaped sheet of metal having flanges 29 secured to the bottom of section i. This holder is provided with a thread hole 3%, which like the hole 26, is sufficiently large to permit of easily projecting the thread therethrough. I provide a sheet of rubber or similar material 3i (Fig. 9) with a thread hole 32, and this friction imposing member is inserted into the holder 23 and will preferably fit snugly therein. Initially, the thread may be extended through holes 38, 32 and 26, by means of an ordinary needle, the latter being threaded, as usual. The

hole 32 will be relatively small so that when the thread is advanced through it, an effective degree of drag will be imposed, as will now be clear.

Reference will next be made to a cell. or container, with which the set is equipped, into which extra spools of thread, needles and like acces sories may be disposed in convenient access to the user. a

I have shown a cell of cylindrical form, the same having a bottom wall 33 and an upright wall 34. For convenienceof the user I prefer to rotatively mount the cell and I have shown a swivel bolt 35, having a nut 36, extending through a raised portion 3i of section 2, and through bottom wall 33. Said cell may be provided with one or more receptacles, one being shown at 38, secured in any suitable manner to the cell. Said wall 34 is shown extending upwardly to an approximately flush relationship with the upper face of upper section and is of course rotatable inside said ring-like upper section.

My improved cell is provided with a lid, and a small portion 39 of the lid is'suitably secured to wall 3 1, and the larger opening portion lt! is hinged to the fixed part by a suitable hinge connection indicated at M, the pintle being indicated at '52. To the bottom of the opening portion 55 is secured a U-shaped holder 55 having flanges Mi secured to said lid portion, and this holder may contain a pin cushion adapted for insertion thereinto of pins and needles. It will be seen that the periphery of the lid overhangs section I.

It will now be clear that the lid portion may be opened and the cell may be turned on its swivel so that the interior of the cell will be accessible to the user without the necessity of shifting the position of the entire sewing set.

Reference will next be made to the novel means for severing a length of thread.

A cutter bar 46 is mounted on a washer 6? and is swivelled by a bolt 48 which extends through lid portion ii], and said washer A! and bar 45 and through a cap 9 which conceals various parts just described. As shown in Fig. 1, portions 55 of cap 59 are interrupted so that said bar 45 may extend therethrough, and hence the cap 49 will be nonrotatively connected with and will rotate with said bar. A thread cutter, generally designated at 5|, is mounted on each end of bar 45 so that when said bar is shifted either cutter may be disposed in position adjacent any desired thread hole 26. However, in some forms of the invention only one cutter is provided. By swivelling the cutter bar 45 it is not necessary to turn the cell when it is desired to sever a length of thread. Further, by swivelling the bar 45 on the opening portion 46 of the lid, I am able to always dispose the cutters in a position of close accessi bility to the holes 26 when the lid is closed, and

I avoid the otherwise objectionable feature of 1 providing a special swivel connection with stationary parts of the frame, which would complicate the structure.

Reference will neXt be made to the improved thread cutter, and as both are identical in form and function, only one need be described in detail, reference being had to Figs. 12 to 18.

The outer end of bar 46 is forked as indicated at 52, and a U-shaped holder is secured thereto by means such as screws 53 which extend through the lower limb 54 of said holder. Said holder has a bight portion 55 and an upper limb 55 forming a guiding portion and which may be inclined upwardly from the lower limb 54, as shown. The lower limb 54 is slightly recessed to form a space between the forked portion 52 of bar 55, and said lower limb 54, as shown in Fig. 12. A knife holder is shown in Figs, 15-16 and consists of upright knife embracing flanges 51, the upper edges of which are inclined, as shown, and horizontal anchoring flanges 58. The upright flanged portion fits in the space between the forked ends 52 and limb 54, and said holder abuts against bight 55 at its outer end, while the flanges 58 fit between the forked portions 52 and lower limb 54.

A knife 59, having an inclined knife edge 58, fits between flanges 51 and is supported on the bottom of said knife holder, indicated at 5 l. The inclination and proportions of the knife are such as to cause the knife edge to project above the flanges 5? of the holder, as shown in Figs. 12*and 14. A thread guide consists of two wires 62 having their lower outer ends resting on the upper edges of flanges 51 of the holder, and on opposite sides of the knife edge 65. The inner ends 63 are secured in any desired manner to the under side of limb 55. These guide wires are preferably curved as shown in Fig. 12, andI have shown the end of a thread at 65 in the position which it might occupy just prior to being drawn to the left of Fig. 12 to be severed. It should be clear that the downwardly curved portion of the guide wires 52 will serve to guide the thread against the knife edge 60.

While the operation of my device may be clear from the foregoing, I will briefly recapitulate the same as follows:

Initially, the user will charge the set by disposing the various spools of thread onto the spindles in the manner which will now be clear, with all or any portion of the spindles occupied, dependent upon the variety of thread which the user requires. The thread will be extended through adjacent guides or IE3, and upwardly through the friction sheets or tabs 5|, and through the respective dispensing holes 26, far enough to be grasped by the fingers, as shown, but not far enough to present a disorderly appearance. Thus, an end of each spool of thread will always be available, and since the spools are all peripherally disposed about the set it will be easy for the user to glance down to the particular spools, to be sure of dispensing the particular thread desired.

After a thread selection has been made, and a sufficient or desired length has been pulled or drawn out, the bar 45 will be shifted to bring either of the cutters 5| into a convenient position adjacent the thread hole 26, from which a length of thread had been withdrawn, and with one hand, the user gripping the thread can move it across the cutter 5|, as shown at the left of Fig. 1, and the thread will thus be advanced between the guide and knife, as shown in Fig, 12, and severed squarely across the length of the thread. Thus a clean cut is made that can readily be threaded through the eye of a needle.

The retainers l3 may be used on all the spools or just on some of them, but preferably all of them, and when they are used they comprise an integral part of the structure and act interdependently with a part of the structure and the spools, irrespective of the fact that they are detachable from the structure.

It is desired to emphasize the fact that while I have herein shown only one spindle for supporting two spools, still it is important to note that it would be within the scope of my invention to fully equip the entire set with this feature, which would enable me to make the set of even smaller size than that shown, and of a greatly increased capacity.

When the lid portion 40 is opened the user can apply thrust thereto to rotate the cell into an accessible position without shiftin the entire set, and further, with the cutters mounted on the opening portion of the lid they are out of the way when the lid is opened and do not obstruct access to the cell.

It is believed that my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and while I have shown one specific form of the invention, I do not Wish to be limited thereto except for such'limitations as the claims may import.

I claim:

1. In a sewing set, a frame comprising upper andlower sections and standards rigidly connecting said sections in spaced relation, said upper section having a spindle socket and said lower section having a spindle opening, a double spool spindle insertible endwise through said opening for engagement of its upper end in said socket, said spindle having a Washer supporting shoulder substantially midway of its length and of such reduced diameter as to pass through the bores of the spools, a washer supported by said shoulder for sustaining an upper spool of thread free from a lower spool of thread, and means ongaging said lower section and said spindle for removably supporting the latter in position to hold two spools of thread.

2. In a sewing set, a frame comprising upper and lower sections and standards rigidly connecting said sections in spaced relation, said lower section having'a relatively short spindle adapted to engage a lower portion of the bore of a spool of thread for rotatively retaining the latter on saidlower section, and a rod-like spool retainer having an expansible end'adapted to be contracted and inserted into the upper portion of the bore of the spool irrespective of the length of the latter and the upper end of said retainer engaging the bottom of said upper section to prevent accidental removal of the spool from said spindle.

3. In a sewing set structure, a frame having a substantially horizontally disposed section proand extending radially toward said holes, said bar having a thread cutting device on its outer end disposed closely adjacent and bein 'accessible to any of said holes on rotative adjustment of said bar, said cutting device being of U-shape form opening radially inwardly and provided with a longitudinally disposed fixed cutting knife having an inclined cutting edge and a thread guide converging toward said cutting edge for guiding an interposed thread thereagainst.

4. In a sewing set, a frame having upper and lower sections spaced in superposed relation to exceed the height of the usual spool of thread, said lower section having a spindle adapted to engage the bore of a spool of thread for rotatively retaining the latter on said lower section, and a rod-like element having its lower end engaging the spool and its upper end in free rotative engagement with said upper section to permit free rotation of said spool and prevent accidental removal of the latter from said spindle.

5. In a sewing set, a frame comprising an upper ring section and a' disc-like lower section and standards rigidly connecting said sections in spaced relation, a receiving cell rotatively mounted on said lower section centrally of said ring section and having a hinged lid, said lower section having a series of spool spindles disposed annularly about said cell, said ring section having a circular row of thread dispensing holes adapted to receive thread from the spools on said spinles, and a thread cutter rotatively mounted on said lid and extending radially of said ring section for adjustment into convenient thread cutting positions adjacent any of said thread dispensing holes.

- LEE CLANTON. 

